Yellow Fever Treatment

Yellow fever is a serious disease that occurs mainly in Africa and South America. Travellers to and from these areas should be cautious and ensure they are properly vaccinated before travel. This means having a vaccination at least 10 days before travel if you have not had one in the last ten years. Many countries will not let travellers in who do not have proof of Yellow fever vaccination.

There is unfortunately no cure for Yellow fever, and if it enters the Toxic Stage it can potentially be fatal.

If you contract Yellow fever you will first develop the acute stage of the disease. Yellow fever treatment for the acute stage is simply symptom relief in the form of painkillers to reduce headaches and fever. Most people will recover from the Acute stage with no further symptoms however, in a period of 24 hours there is a 15% chance of developing the Toxic stage symptoms. These symptoms include liver failure (resulting in jaundice as the liver deteriorates), kidney failure, vomiting and bleeding. Once a person develops these symptoms there is no yellow fever treatment and there is a 20% chance of fatality.

The only way to be sure not to contract Yellow fever is to be immunised. Visit our page on the ‘Yellow Fever Vaccine’ for more information.